Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With Me In Some Way

I was on tagged Facebook to list my Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With Me In Some Way… and I wasn’t planning to do it at first because I didn’t think I could manage to only list 10. I guess I just felt like there are so many books I love that I’d feel weird, or even guilty, only naming a few of them because lets face it… I know that all of us have a ton of books we love and adore.

But this wasn’t just asking books I loved or even my “favorite books”, it was literally books that somehow just stuck with me over time so please remember, this is different than a normal favorites list. And, as such, there are 2 books/series listed on it that I’ve never even mentioned before on this blog!

(PS: Thanks Abby C. for the tag!)

Also, I’ve only listed books I’d read prior to 2013 or preferably even way before then. I took this quite literally to mean books that have had a chance to stay with me for a while so even though I have many newer books that have had a strong impact on me, I tried to focus on the ones I’ve loved for longer here…

The Bronze Horseman series by Paullina Simons (My Review) — This is (and I think always will be) the story that has had the strongest and deepest impact on me. It’s the most powerful and epic love story I’ve ever read. And, even though there are many favorite books I love with all my heart and soul, I honestly can’t imagine any other story ever having this strong an impact on me which it’s why I’ve put it on a pedestal as my one and only 10-stars series. It’s absolutely incomparable in my eyes.

Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James — I owe this book for getting me seriously into contemporary romance. I read it back when it first came out as an indie and even though I’d read a few before this and loved them, this was the series that made me go ‘OMG. I want more!’ … For me, and I think for many other readers of romance, this book was a reading life changer. It’s one of those series I could re-read endlessly and it would still make my heart race each time. *sigh* I love you, CG.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer — The vampire who fell in love with the innocent human… This was the first 100% romance series I ever read and I fell in complete and total love with Edward. I think the entire romance world owes this book so much. Not only did I adore this book on it’s own merit but I also love it for the incredible creativity it inspired. So many of my top favorite books today originated as fanfiction of this book and I’m so grateful that this story inspired so many authors to write.

Slammed series by Colleen Hoover (My Review) — Oh gosh, I can still so vividly remember the heart-racing intensity I felt the first time I read this book. That twist!!!! This was still one of the first contemporary romances I’d ever read so I have no idea what to expect and it totally caught me off guard and took over my life!! This was the first book I officially pimped out to anyone who I could get to read it. I even made my parents read it (PS – they loved it!). It was the first book I reviewed — my review was very short but it was something and it inspired me to keep reviewing. But this was the first time I just had to get my feelings about a book out because I loved it that much. And I still do.

Bared To You (Crossfire #1) by Sylvia Day (My Review) — This was the first (and only book) that I’ve ever read straight through and then immediately flipped it right over and started it over again. The kind of relationship that Gideon and Eva have is the kind I most love reading about — characters with a lot of pain in their pasts, who love each other with every fiber of their beings and are doing everything in their power to work together to build a functional relationship. The writing, the characters, the story, everything about this book is just perfection to me.

Thoughtless series by SC Stephens (My Review) — My first rockstar book and still my favorite one!! Kellan Kyle. Holy hell. The things this book did to my heart. The angst was like nothing I’d ever read before. My stomach was in knots. My heart was pounding. I literally stayed up til the wee hours of the morning glued to the pages of this book. Safe to say, it was another life changer for me as a reader.

The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred (My Review) — This was the book that made me fall in love second chance romances. I remember inhaling this book in one sitting. Such strong emotions — such intense emotions — and gorgeous writing. Even looking back now, I can still feel for this story even though it’s been quite a while since I read it so yeah… this one has stayed with me.

Captive In The Dark by CJ Roberts (My Review) — This was the first ‘dark romance’ book I read and it is absolutely still my #1. This book pushed the boundaries of my comfort zones to the very very very limits and me questioning my feelings (and my sanity because of those feelings) over and over again. There was nothing black and white about this story. It was all about the grey zone. Such a twisted and yet beautiful love story. Incredible writing, complex and multi-layered characters, and just this emotionally draining, utterly mindfucking, meticulously crafted story. Gah. I loved this series!

Love Me With Lies series by Tarryn Fisher (My Review) — It’s kind of a big deal for me that I’m listing these books here because on the surface they seem like the polar opposite of the kind of story I love. Interestingly, this series ended up as one of my 5-star top favs. It’s easily the most heart-breakingly dysfunctional love story I’ve read but also one of the most beautiful. People aren’t perfect and this story had a raw honesty to it that just reached right into my heart. And the writing is outstanding. Truly brilliant story telling.

Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3) — Ok, so I’ve never mentioned this series on my blog before because a) I don’t have reviews for them because I read them before I started blogging, and b) the series is kind of a romance and yet, it’s also not. I’d probably classify them as sexy, dark urban fantasy. There are strong relationships and very dark, sexual themes but the whole story is just in it’s own category all together. The world that this author created is entirely, 100% unique and very complex. Gosh, I’ve probably read this trilogy at least 10 times over minimum and it was one of those where the more I read it, the more I loved it. It has Alpha men, strong women, completely original world building but it’s completely unlike anything else I usually blog about. I’ve also never mentioned them because I guess in a weird way, I feel like I need to explain them a little or something (they’re really different)… One day, I’ll re-read and review them but for now, I’ll just add them to this list. (PS: please don’t judge them on their covers. Seriously.)

Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind — This is a fantasy series (like actual fantasy, not fantasy romance) that is another that I’ve read so many times but never before mentioned on my blog since it’s not specifically a romance. There is however a single, strong, unwavering love story throughout all 11 (looooong) books. This series as a whole has a set of very powerful messages which really resonate strongly with me personally and even though this is really not the kind of series that fits in with this blog per se, it’s one of those ones that has always stayed with me.

k, so 11 is close to 10 right?? haha I cheated a little. Sorry! 😉 There are so many other honourable mentions … so many more unforgettable stories. But I’m trying to stick to the rules here. So instead, I’ll just refer you to my favorites list for each of the years I’ve been blogging…

The Analyst
Eragon (I started to read by this book)
The Little Prince (I’ll always love this one)
Unwind
Sometimes it lasts
The Diary of a Young Girl (Ana Frank)
Maybe Someday
Archer’s Voice
Multiversum
The Billionaire’s Final Stand

1. The Bridge To Terabitha by Katherine Paterson -This book hands down had the biggest effect on me. Love it. One of the greatest stories of friendship, ever.
2. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Milay
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
4. Harry Potter series
5. Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle -Contains my two favorite book characters ever.
6. Seduced in the Dark by CJ Roberts. -Made me question a lot about myself.
7. Going Under by S. Walden
8. Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley. -Started my KA obsession. 38 books later and I still salivate when she has a release day!
9. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
10. The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

Twilight… I owe twilight for my addiction to reading now…never really read before this.
50 shades of grey
Carnage
Hopeless and losing hope
Beautiful disaster series
Driven trilogy
Thoughtless series
Emi lost and found
Trust in me/wait for you
Cross fire series
Hot house flower…hey you did 11 lol

There are so many others that deserve to be on this list (Songs of Submission by CD Reid’s, Undeniable series by Madeleine Sheehan, Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines, Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire, Collide/Pulse by Gail Mc Hugh, etc., etc.). My number one favourite character is Kellan Kyle so I do put the series a little above the rest. 🙂

Okay in light of your criteria I will revise my original list a little bit but not to ones prior to 2013 since I started reading adult romance novels at the age of ten years old. There would be a LOT of historical novels in that list since I was a historical romance junkie up until about 2010 when I got into Twilight and rediscovered paranormal, YA and now New Adult romance.

Mine are in the order that I’ve read them with paranormal (my favorite genre) listed first. All evoked an emotional response from me in some way:
1. Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
2. Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
3. The Mephisto Covenant series by Stephanie Feagan/Trinity Faegen
4. Saving Forever (Ever Trilogy book 3) & Falling Into You (that scene, no!!!!), Falling Into Us (Becca & Jason-I wanted to be them!) by Jasinda Wilder
5. Ice series by Anne Stuart
6. Wait For You series by J. Lynn
7. Between Breaths series by Christina Lee
8. Clipped Wings series by Helena Hunting
9. Death Angel by Linda Howard
10. Ice series by Anne Stuart
Honorable mentions: ***Exposure by Therese Fowler*** – The story was so astonishingly good. I feel for you parents out there, seriously.

I didn’t mention it because I read it very recently. It was a 2014 read for me and this list is only 2013 and before because the game said books that had stayed with you for a *while* so I took that to mean older read 🙂

1. A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle
2.The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
3. Watchers by Dean Koontz
4. The Stand by Stephen King
5. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
6. The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer
7. From the Wreckage by Michele G. Miller
8. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
9. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
10. The Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hi, darling! I love to read your recommendations even when I don’t normally comment them. It’s just that every single book you love becomes in a book I love, so I’m sure all of these are amazing. (I’ve just read four).
Have you ever read the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost? I think you’ll love them.
Hugs.

Hello from Greece!
I have just read Come to me Softly and saw your blog in the first page. Congrats! Well, I cannot make a proper list, since it consists of many Greek books, but I will write down some English language books I read this summer and really liked.
1. Beautiful disaster
2. Come to me quietly
3. Come to me softly
4. The Hush hush four books
5. The Stranger I married, Sylvia Day
Of course The Bronze Horseman is above all these books and it is a pitty I cannot find another book like this! Thank you for all your book recommendations. I will follow as many as I can.

I’m glad i’m not the only one who has a secret love of the black jewels series. I don’t know what it is and why it really is but there is just something about it, that is intriguing me to bits.

my list would be:
the firebird by Sophie Masson
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
The house of Comarre by Kristen Painter
Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day
beautiful Bastard series by Christina Lauren
The Stark Trilogy by J. Kenner
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
A Bun for Barney (Childhood book)
The Hunger Games by Suzzanne Collins
the black jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop (of Course, or anything she writes really)

There has to be someone else out there who has read them too. We can’t be the only lucky ones. I know that they are not really a romance read, but they are a must read for one. Recommend them to anyone who will listen. No to convince people to actually read them…

Haha I hear you! I just feel like they’re harder books to get people read because they’re so hard to explain. Lol, you more just have to get people to trust you and just dive in 😉 One day, I’ll re-read and review and hopefully that’ll help convince some of the readers on here to try them out!

I want to say that limiting to 10 almost leaves me in a panic attack 😉
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
2. Breaking Kate by Dee Kelly….this is a must read by a new author….brilliantly written!
3. Dom Wars Series by Lucian Bane one word….incredible
4. The Blackstone Affair by Raine Miller stirred my love of dirty mouthed alpha males
5. The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind the only fantasy series I have completed
6. The Notebook by Nicolas Sparks
7. The Prey Series by John Sanford…love a detective series
8. The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer I learned I loved the paranormal
9 With Me Series By Kristen Proby
10. Sweet Valley High….for which I learned I loved to read!

These all seem like fantastic books; what a great idea for a blog post. There are so many books that have “stayed with me” in some small way. I just finished a book called “Watson’s Way” by author Joel Lund that I would like to recommend to all of you. It is a book that has stayed in my mind ever since finishing it a few weeks ago. This book is so heart warming and beautifully written I was really impressed by it. For anyone who has ever had the joy of being loved by a pet, this book will instantly tug at your heart strings. Their is such a deep spirituality in our pets and they can truly bring out the best in us, and that is exactly what the author shows us in this story. Whether you are a Christian, believe in God, love dogs, or are just feeling lost, this book can truly help you reflect on your life and learn some very important lessons a long the way. It is an uplifting, feel-good reminder that life lessons are all around us.

1. The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss ( read it first time like 25 yrs ago. Sooo Good)
2. A Knight in Shining Armour by Jude Deveraux ( another oldie but goodie)
3. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
4. Fifty Shades of Grey series by EL James
5. Thoughtless series by S.C. Stephens
6.

1. The “Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. (started reading them when I was nine; I’m 23 now and am still in love!
2. “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.
3. “Heidi” by Johanna Spyri.
4. the “Fudge” series by Judy Blume.
5. “Heart on A Chain” by Cindy C. Bennett.
6. “Sinners on Tour” series by Olivia Cunning!!!!
7. “Womens Murder Club” series by James Patterson.
8. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.
9. The “Grey Wolves” series by Quinn Loftis.
10. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.

My heartfelt gratitude and delight in finding your blog tonight are immense! My favourite romance book ever is the Bronze Horseman series and I use this as a standard on how all romance books are judged. So guess how delighted I am to find a like minded opinion in your blog and write up! I am looking forward to look through the books you recommend and knowing that you will be on a lookout for another epic romance as such with Alexandra and Tatiana ( or that with Christian and Ana).

Welcome to my blog! TBH is my most favorite book of all time and definitely if you loved that one, you should be able to find many others you like on this blog (even if they’re not necessarily the same type of story). I certainly hope you do! Happy reading/browsing!

I check your blog everyday and your reviews are awesome I discovered some great books thanks to you, I came across a book, Captured by Jasinda Wilder that you just have to read it if you haven’t already I promise it’ll become one of your favorites I enjoyed it soooo much and I know you will too.

#8 Captive in the dark.
Have you read This life of Anna series by Marissa Honeycutt?
It was the most disturbing book I have ever read, Captive in the dark stayed with me but this one? Was well written but I honestly don’t know how someone could come up with something this dark. I will never forget it, even if I would like to, there is a love story but all the darkness overrides a lot of it.

Okay, so those are definitely my top ten but here’s a few extras you must read if you haven’t already:
1. Black Lies & Sex, Love, Repeat – both by Alessandra Torre
2. The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden AND The Secret of Ella and Micha – both by Jessica Sorensen
3. Indebted Series by Pepper Winters
4. Until Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds
5. Collide & Pulse by Gail McHugh
6. Beneath Series by Meghan March
7. Beaumont Series by Heidi McLaughlin
8. Fixed Series by Laurelin Paige
9. Raw by Belle Aurora
10. Tall, Tatted, & Tempting by Tammy Falkner (love Logan and all the Reed brothers)
11. Breaking Free trilogy by E.M. Abel
12. Breathing trilogy by Rebecca Donovan
13. Fallen Crest series by Tijan

I absolutely love your blog. I log on everyday just to read your reviews, recommendations, and beautifully arranged pre-order and New Release Book Lists. Your site is so well organized and always kept up to date with the latest and greatest reads. I follow all your recommendations since it appears we have very similar taste in books. So thank you for everything you do. Us book lovers appreciate it!! 🙂

My top 10 romance books:
1. Grayson’s Vow by Mia Sheridan
2. Burying Water by K. A. Tucker
3. Darker Water by Lauren Stewart
4. Sustained by Emma Chase
5. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
6. The Deal by Elle Kennedy
7. Coming Home by Priscilla Glenn
8. Beyond What is Given by Rebecca Yarros
9. The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole
10. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
Loved each and every one of those and have read them so many times that it could probably be considered slightly embarrassing:)

Hi Aestas , i’ve come across many books through your blog. I love your reviews. I always check them before reading any new book.

Well my top 10 & fav books :
1. Fifty shades trilogy (this book got me into reading actually!)
2. Sustained -Ema Chase
3. Taking Chances – Molly McAdams
4.Twilight Saga
5.StuckUp-suit
6.Room hate
7.Crossfire series
8.The life intended
9.addicted to you & series
10. Life is what you make it -Preeti shenoy (that’s of an Indian author but i still love it)

I even love I too had a love story & its series by Rajvinder Singh (An Indian author)

Hi I am new here and am not sure if this is the right category or opinion place to write this but here goes. I embrace my sexually but that doesn’t mean that I want to read about sex slaves or whips or chains books or you get it now? I am looking for books with heat sensual heat or let me give you several several examples of my authors that I love and have a permanent place on my libruary shelf. The late Bertrice Small…R.I.P…Julie Garwood (her highlander series only) Susan Andersen, lori Foster, Virginia Henley..love love her books..Sabrina Jeffries. Susan Johnson, Nichole Jordan, Donna Kauffman, Donna Fletcher, Lisa Kleypas, Julia London. Kat Martin, Connie Mason, Judith McNaught ( I wish she would write again) Paula Quinn, Lora Leigh, Bella Andre, Michele Sinclair, Mary Wine, Jaci Burton, and Lynasy Sands. I am not looking for one page sensual heat. I am looking or shopping for new authors who may be as tasteful as all these authors are. I would really appreciate your opinions/idea’s or suggestions. I read both contempory or historical novels or short stories 4 my kindle fire hd 8. I look forward to hear back from you. Thank you in advance

Came across your blog by searching for books “similar to Whitney, My Love.” Just added a bunch of ebooks to my Barnes and Noble cart due to looking at all these lists (Barnes and Noble thanks you all)! My list of ten (oops eleven) books that have stuck with me would include:

Twilight series (This series affected me like no other series EVER!)
Whitney, My Love
The Force of Gravity
Ugly Love (ANYTHING by Colleen Hoover sticks with you forever.)
Archer’s Voice
Beautiful Disaster
Thoughtless
Bully
On Dublin Street
Easy
Wait For You

1. This Man trilogy by Jodi Ellen Malpas
2. One Night trilogy by Jodi Ellen Malpas
3. This Love by Dani Atkins
4. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
5. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
6. Until it Fades by K. A. Tucker (though it’s new but still awesome so deserves to be on the list)
7. Bared to You series by Sylvia Day
8. First Touch & Last Kiss series by Laurelin Paige
9. Fixed on You trilogy by Laurelin Paige
10. Fix You by Carrie Elks

Anne Bishop is one of my favorite fantasy authors!! Have you reader any of her other series? Or have you ever found any other fantasy series that compares?

1. The Black Jewels Series by Anne Bishop
2. Slammed Series by Colleen Hoover
3. The Veil Diaries Series by B.L. Brunnemer
4. Vain by Fisher Amelie
5. The Shapeshifters by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
6. Significance Series by Shelly Crane
7. More Than This by Jay McLean
8. Anything ever by Sarah J. Maas
9. Anything ever by Tijan
10. When We Were Kings by Auryn Hadley

1. Harry Potter series
2. Surrender Series by Ahren Sanders
3. Songbird series by Lisa Edwards
4. Beautiful series Jamie Mcguire
5. Any book by R.L. Mathewson
6. Any book Abbi Glines
7. Gypsy Brothers by Lili St Germain (so twisted it was emotionally traumatizing)
8. Significance Series by Shelly Crane
9. Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
10. Hunger Games
11. Billionaire Boss Club series by Jessica Clare
BONUS: Literally ANY BOOK Nora Roberts puts out. Year one was amazing!! I can’t wait for book two. Never thought Nora would write dystopia and have no romance present

Followed you for ages via email however just had a nosy .. was looking for any biker/MC list of books ? .. came across this
List and saw ones I’d never heard of .. so I’m going to amazon them now lol thanks s